Human Relationships: COMMUNICATION

Question 1

WHATS THE THEORY

Answer 1

social penetration theory

Question 2

WHAT IS SOCIAL PENETRATION THEORY

Answer 2

claims that individuals in a relationship move from a shallow level of communication to a more intimate level.
Intimacy is characterized by greater self-disclosure: individuals start sharing their deep emotions and concerns with each other

Question 3

S1 RESEARCHER & AIM

Answer 3

SHELDON : investigate self disclosure, social attractional dn trust as a predictor of facebook relationships

Question 4

S1 PROCEDURE

Answer 4

243 undergrad 20y/o
1) Participants were given a set of questionnaires.
2) They were asked to answer the questions about the interactions between the person they talked to the most on Facebook.

Question 5

S1 FINDINGS

Answer 5

• The perception of attraction drives self-disclosure, especially the number of topics discussed with the person on Facebook.
• Increased disclosure was associated with higher predictability (less uncertainty) about the person, which in turn was associated with greater trust. This supports the so-called uncertainty reduction theory: the more people talk with each other, the less uncertainty they experience, and they are able to like each other more.

Question 6

S1 CONCLUSION

Answer 6

Researchers conclude that in online communication between Facebook friends, people initially disclose to those they like. This disclosure leads to being more certain about the friend’s behavior (predictability). Predictability increases trust, trust increases likelihood of self-disclosure, and self-disclosure increases liking, which completes the circle.

Question 7

WHATS THE FOUR HORSEMEN IN AN ARGUEMENT

Answer 7

• Critisism: Criticising the partner’s personality and character, rather than the behaviour
• Contempt: Criticism with the intention of psychologically abusing and insulting the partner. (name-calling, sarcasm, rolling eyes)
• Defensiveness: Denying responsibility, making excuses or returning their partner’s complaint with their own
• Stonewalling: Removing oneself from the conversation, by refusing to speak, removing eye contact, monosyllabic responses or changing the subject

Question 8

S2 RESEARCHER & AIM

Answer 8

Gottman : To create and test models of causes of relationship dissolution as well as investigate what makes marriages last.

Question 9

S2 PROCEDURE

Answer 9

200 couples followed for 20y
- Couples were interviewed about their frequency of fights, types of conflicts etc.
- Couples were observed in “love labs” before and after discussing common conflict areas in the relationship, where facial expressions, physiological responses (pulse, sweating), tone of voice, what was said was recorded. The time spent in positive and negative interaction was measured.

Question 10

S2 FINDINGS

Answer 10

1. Three Styles of problem solving were found in healthy marriages:
   - Validating: Couples communicate and compromise to calmly work out their problem to mutual satisfaction
   - Volatile: Recurrent conflicts with passionate disputes, tend to view each other as equal, individuality is important, passionate and exciting marriages
   - Conflict avoiding: Agreeing to disagree, no confrontation
2. The ratio of positive interactions to negative interactions must be 5:1 (eg for every insult, 5 compliments must be given) The marriage was likely to be stable if this ration was maintained
3. Ways of communicating including the 4 horsemen often predicted relationship breakdown

Question 11

S2 CONCLUSION

Answer 11

Conflict styles contribute the changing and ending of relationships